For a fantastic fly drive holiday to suit the music lovers

For a fantastic fly drive holiday to suit the music lovers, why not experience live jazz, blues and country in the cities where they were born.

New Orleans, Louisiana 

Start off your American adventure in New Orleans, the melting pot of culture that has created one of the USA’s most vivacious and charismatic cities. It is known for its round the clock night life, vibrant music scene and French, African and American influenced cuisine. The Big Easy, as it is often referred to for its laidback way of life, is located in Louisiana state on the Mississippi River and has live music around every corner, from traditional blues to R’n’B and has a bustling night life that will have something for everyone. When there, the French Quarter is a must visit, as the city’s oldest and most famous neighbourhood it is steeped in history – but there is plenty of new mixed with the old. Enjoy boutiques, eateries and antique shops while meandering around this beautiful part of town. If you want to experience true home grown jazz and funk, head to Frenchmen Street where you will be spoilt for choice in live music, great food and cocktails. Be sure to visit one of the many museums there is in the city, and of course no trip to New Orleans would be complete without sampling its most famous sandwich, the Po’ Boy!

Natchez, Mississippi 

Next stop on our road trip is into Mississippi to visit the historic city of Natchez on the banks of the river. It is just three hours drive out of New Orleans, so it makes for a great stop off on your journey. Natchez was originally founded by the Native American Natchez tribe, and so is steeped in valuable American history. Why not sample some of the locally brewed rum, wine or beer, or take a tour of some of the many famous houses, inlcuding the mansion from Gone with the Wind. For something a bit more laid back, you can take a paddle in the Mississippi river on a guided canoe tour.

Memphis, Tennessee

Onwards north to Memphis, the home of the blues and the King of Rock’n’Roll himself. Music lovers will lose themselves in this fabulous city, as will any barbecue connoisseur! This city is understated in its charm, with mansions built beside small city homes, but there is no doubt it is captivating. Even if you aren’t a massive Elvis fan, a visit to Graceland is a must for anyone passing through Memphis. You take a tour bus over to the mansion where John Stamos voices your tablet tour that takes you through the house, including the famous jungle room, around the grounds and concludes at the memorial fountain where Presley and his parents are buried.

Stand in the very same studio as some of music’s greats at Sun Studio. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and BB King, to name a few, all recorded in the famous walls of this Memphis institution. It is tucked into the street in such a way that you would easily miss it, and inside offers the same unimposing environment. You can stand in the very spot where Elvis brought a new sound to the world, and even hold the microphone, and discover the magic behind Cash’s ‘Walk the Line’. Then when the days tour ends, it goes back to its night job as a working studio. A visit to the National Civil Rights Museum is a must visit. It won’t take you a whole day to visit this profoundly moving museum, built inside the very same motel building where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, but the effect of your visit will be hard to shake. It’s an incredibly difficult part of American history to delve into in detail, but rarely will you find a museum as carefully constructed and as thorough as this one. Last but not least, no trip to Memphis would be compelte without taking in the sights and sounds of Beale Street, where the city and its music scene really comes alive.

Nashville, Tennessee 

Welcome to the home of Country music! A three and a half hour drive out of Memphis and you are into another amazingly unique and vibrant city of music and culture. For country music fans and wannabe songwriters all over the world, a trip to Nashville is the ultimate pilgrimage. Since the 1920s the city has been attracting musicians, who have taken the country genre from the ‘hillbilly music’ of the early 20th century to the slick ‘Nashville sound’ of the 1960s to the punk-tinged alt-country of the 1990s. Explore the many musical attractions the city has to offer, from The Grand Ole Opray to Jack White’s niche record label. Take a walk down music’s hall of fame in downtown Nashville through one of the dedication museums; learn all about Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson as they delve into their own personal journeys. Head toward the neon lights of Broadway for round the clock music, seven days a week, and be sure to check for festivals before arrival as there is usually something going on to enjoy in the city.

sources: Ireland's Home Interior and Living, August 2018

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